Republic of the Philippines

BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Main Campus
CPG North Avenue, Tagbilaran City

Vision: A premier Science and Technology University for the formation of a world- class and virtuous human
resource for sustainable development in Bohol and the country.

Mission: BISU is committed to provide a quality higher education in the arts and sciences, as well as in the
professional and technological fields, undertake research and development, and the extension services for
the sustainable development of Bohol and country.

COLLEGE OF ADVANCE STUDIES

Reporters: Vanessa B. Operiano Course: MATVE-Garments
Professor: Mrs. Jo-Ann S. Ingking Subject: Casual Wear
Topic: Casual Trends – United States

The United States is one of the leading countries in the fashion

design industry, along with France, Italy, the United
Kingdom, Germany and Japan. Apart from professional business attire, American
fashion is eclectic and predominantly informal. New York City and Los Angeles are
the centers of America's fashion industry. They are considered leading fashion
capitals. New York City is generally considered to be one of the "big four" global
fashion capitals, along with Paris, Milan and London.
The headquarters of many leading designer labels such as Ralph Lauren
Corporation, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, Vera Wang, Marc
Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, and Victoria's
Secret and etc.
Unsurprisingly, dresses remain a popular women’s clothing item across the
U.S., from flattering sheath cuts and flirty strapless styles to more formal cocktail
dresses. But depending on which region, you’ll find different necklines and dress
types trending.
 American Fashion through the Decades

The Roaring 20s

The end of World War I brought a new

sense of freedom and independence to
women in the United States. It was during
this decade that the “flapper” emerged, a
new type of young American woman
whose clothing screamed modernity.
Prior to the 1920s, American women
aimed to look older than their actual age.
American women of the 1920s often
“bobbed”, or cut, their hair short to fit
under the iconic cloche, a snug-fit hat
made of felt that was worn tilted in order
to cover the forehead and, at times, the
ears. The flapper style dress and cloche
hat were often worn together, particularly
during the latter half of the decade.

American men of the 1920s began to

dress less formally than ever before.
During the decade, men abandoned suit
lapels of the 1910s, opting instead for
cuffed trousers, flannel jackets, and two-
toned shoes for casual wear. In addition,
both men and young boys began wearing
short knee pants, known in the U.S. as
knickers, topped with lightweight
sweaters and casual button-down shirts.
Men’s shirts in the 1920s were often
made of stripes in a mixture of colors,
mainly pastel greens, blues, and yellows,
contrasted with a white collar. Bow ties
also rose to popularity during this era.
1950s: Post War Era

Women of the 1950s were expected to

look and dress a certain way and many,
for the most part, conformed to this
newly established standard of beauty,
unlike the fashion-forward, independent
flappers of the Roaring 20s. During this
decade, hemlines dropped significantly,
reaching mid-calf or even ankle length
while the popularity of the hourglass

silhouette rose. Dresses with flowing,

bright colored skirts became the standard
for suburban housewives. For working
women, the much more form-fitting knee-
length pencil skirt was often worn,
requiring a tight girdle in order to
emphasize the hourglass figure.

For men, 1950s fashion was not very

different from that of previous decades.
Men often wore suits, sweaters, casual
button-downs, and slacks, all made of
similar fabrics. Unlike in the 1920s, men
avoided patterns, opting instead for
solid colors.
1960s: The Age of Counterculture

In the U.S., the 1960s was defined by

the rise of counterculture movements
that revolutionized social norms across
the country. Youth culture during the
1960s rejected the emphasis on
conformity that the preceding decade
ingrained in society. Replacing distinct
separations between the styles of
clothing worn by men and women, the
1960’s introduced a new phenomena:
unisex clothing such as denim jeans
and leather jackets that could be worn
by everyone.

Women rejected the girdles and

padded brassieres that were
encouraged in the 1950s, replacing
them with unconventional practices
such as avoiding make-up and sporting
long, unkempt hair.

1970s: The “Me” Decade

Americans in the 1970s took a step

back from political movements,
choosing instead to focus on
themselves. Many have referred to
this shift as a “return to normalcy”,
giving the 1970s its nickname as the
“Me” Decade.

Popularized in the late 1960s, hot

pants, tight-fitting shorts with an
inseam length of 2-3 inches, became a
fashion go-to for young women during
the first half of the 1970s.
Tight tops and loose-fitting bottoms
defined fashion for both men and
women during the latter half of the
decade. Becoming a wardrobe staple in
the 1970s, blue jeans were worn by
men, women, and children across the
country, coming in a variety of different
styles. The popularity of bell-bottoms
continued and today, the style has
become representative of the decade.
Women often opted for ankle-length
maxi skirts and dresses with long slits
on the sides that reached the thigh.
Bold patterns were popular among both
genders along with sports jackets,
chunky sweaters, and pleated pants.

1980s: The Age of Creativity

Fashion in the early 1980s brought a

new sense of style to the decade, one
that focused on pushing boundaries
with creative patterns, funky color
combinations, and unique styles.
Women began sporting skin-tight
cotton leggings, pairing them with
chunky sweaters and oversized, off-
the-shoulder tops. In addition, young
women also wore loose-fitting
parachute pants topped with figure
hugging crop tops that stopped just
above the belly button. Layered
clothing also gained popularity.

Shying away from the tightly fitted

clothing of the 1970s, men in the 80s
opted for loose and comfortable
fabrics. Activewear was a popular
choice among young men, combining
sweatpants and sweatshirts with
sneakers.
 1990s: The Decade of Anti-Fashion

When compared to the flashy style of

the 80s, fashion in the 90s took a much
more minimalist approach. Adults of the
early 1990s wore relaxed fit jeans with
plain T-shirts and knit sweaters while
teenage and pre-teen girls often opted
for brightly-colored neon clothing: hot
pinks, greens, blues, oranges, and
yellows. By 1992, these fluorescent
colors were replaced by softer shades:
coral, turquoise, lilac, and more.
Comfort became the emphasis for
Americans during the decade, rejecting
the uncomfortable clothing trends of the
previous decade.

2000s: The “Mash-up” Decade

By the early 2000s, designers began

incorporating more color and pattern
into their clothing, using inspiration
from vintage clothing of the 1960s,
1970s, and 1980s. Women’s fashion
took a more feminine turn as women
began wearing denim miniskirts and
jackets, halter tops, belly shirts, low-
rise jeans, and capri pants. During the
mid 2000s, the tunic dress gained
popularity among young women and
teenagers, often paired with a thin belt
at the waist. By 2007, ballet flats had
become a staple in women’s fashion,
along with sweater dresses and long
button-down shirts.

Men’s fashion during this decade

resembled that of the 1980s,
incorporating athletic attire into everyday wear. Men wore sneakers, baseball caps,
and sweatshirts, pairing them with bootcut jeans.